Brothers Charged In Fatal Shooting of Chicago Police Officer

CHICAGO — Two brothers have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Chicago Police Ofcr. Ella French and critically wounding of her partner while they were conducting a traffic stop Saturday evening in West Englewood neighborhood. The Cook County State's Attorney announced the charges late Monday afternoon.

Emonte Morgan, aka Monte Morgan, 21, is charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer (two counts), aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

Eric Morgan, 22, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.

CPD Supt. David Brown said during a news conference on Monday afternoon that French was riding with two partners as part of a community safety team near 63rd Street and Bell Avenue. French and her partner went to speak with the driver of a vehicle that had expired license plates.

"This is the first step toward justice as we work to honor our fallen officer and her partner,” Brown said.

The front seat passenger, later identified as Emonte Morgan, got into a struggle with French and her partner.

“It went from the trunk of the car near the inside,” Brown said. “The shots rang out from the passenger front seat of the car, where he was originally seated.”

Emonte Morgan is said to have opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding the 29-year-old police officer, and grievously injuring her partner, who remains in critical condition at University of Chicago Medical Center.

The officers exchanged gunfire with Emonte, who was wounded. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Both brothers were taken into custody at the scene. Police said the female passenger, who was with the brothers, fled the scene and was not apprehended until the morning. Brown said she has not been charged.

“We don’t have evidence to charge her,” Brown said. “If we had evidence, we would certainly charge her.”

An Indiana man is also accused of scheming to straw purchase a Glock semi-automatic pistol for Eric Morgan, a convicted felon, that was used to shoot the police officers. Jamel Danzy, 29, of Hammond, has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's office with federal firearm violations in connection with the shooting. The act of purchasing a weapon for someone else is called a straw purchase.

Brown said Danzy identified himself as the actual buyer of the Glock on the required forms, who purchased the weapon in March from a licensed gun dealer in Indiana.

“He bought the gun at request of another individual in Chicago,” Brown said. “He knew this individual, Eric Morgan, was not lawfully allowed to purchase a firearm due to a felony criminal conviction, bought the gun anyway.”

Despite Saturday's tragic events, Chicago police officers recovered 33 guns the next day, totaling 7536 illegal guns being pulled off the streets of Chicago, a 23 percent increase over a year ago.

“Let that sink in, because every recovery of a gun is a potential deadly encounter,” Brown said.

“You would think officers would pull back and not do what they have done day in and day out, but you don’t know the bravery and courage and commitment and dedication that I know these Chicago police officers exhibit every day to protect the people of Chicago.”

In 2019, 79 Chicago police officers were shot at or shoot. Brown said there is a record pace of police officers being assaulted with guns by suspects, with 38 officers being shot at, with 11 being wounded by gunfire, one fatally.

“[The police] feel alone and unsupported, they feel like their work isn’t being appreciated,” Brown continued. “They’re human, a lot of them have expressed words of discouragement. I would ask the people of Chicago to support police officers with kind words of support, and for people of faith to pray for the officer fighting for his life and that police will be encouraged.”

The police superintendent also took the news media to task, for the “consistent beat down not just on social media, but different parts of society.”

“When they do something well there is no penetration in the news cycle and very few headlines of their fine work, and bravery and courage,” Brown said. “I think a thank you is in order.”

Eric Morgan has a bond hearing Tuesday at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building. It is not known if Esmonte Morgan will be present for the hearing, since at last word, he was hospitalized in stable condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.